BOSTON and JEDDAH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- J/Brice Design International, Inc., Boston-based Hotel and Resort design firm that has long been embedded in the Arabian Gulf, has been named to design Three upscale Outlets at the new Sea Wonders' Aquarium in Jeddah, the first fully operational Aquarium in the region.

With tourism booming in the Arabian Peninsula, J/Brice Design (www.jbricedesign.com) has been awarded numerous hospitality design contracts over the past decade, including the first Vienna-based Kempenski Hotel to open in the Saudi Kingdom, boutique Hotels and large-scale residential villas for private clients.

This latest engagement, according to Jeffrey Ornstein, CEO and founder of the USA based firm, will include an American themed family restaurant named Ocean Drive after the art-deco revival in Miami's trendy resort area, an uber-chic Japanese Sushi Restaurant for ever growing circuit crowd, and a Shisha Bar which sits astride over 500 feet of the Red Sea shoreline called The Promenade.

The Fakieh Group (www.fakiehgroup.com) developed the $40 Million Sea Wonders Aquarium in Jeddah where 7,000 marine animals consisting of more than 200 species – including sharks, dolphins and sea lions – are on display in their natural habitat. The aquarium design gives the guest an amazing sensation of gradually diving into the sea by passing through "immersion" rooms, a mangrove Forest and A coral reef, and a Dhow Wreck. The aquarium will accommodate 14,000 visitors a day and is expected to be a major destination for both the local community as well as tourists to this heavily travelled city, the gateway for all travelers to Mecca. In addition to the sea life and restaurants, the aquarium is designed to host conferences, seminars, and film screenings and other events while guests overlook the aquatic displays and the majestic Red Sea. For details on other Fakieh Group, tourism-focused projects visit: http://www.worldfolio.co.uk/print.php?id=371

Ornstein said, "Our participation in this remarkable center is a logical addition to our immersion in the Saudi marketplace, serving as a springboard for future cultural, educational, and entertainment themed projects as the nation strives to meet demand for not only hotel properties, but for entertainment, conferences, academic facilities and other associated consumer outlets during this period of major expansion. Our understanding of the cultural directives that we have developed over the past decade will well serve J/Brice as we expand our consulting services in these associated markets."

Magdy El I.D., CEO of Hotelier Holding Ltd., an industry veteran whose firm represents J/Brice in The Gulf said, "The Saudi market does not offer easy entry. Jeffrey's ability to navigate thoughtfully through the social and professional channels and establish credibility takes a certain skill and endurance. Jeffrey has an uncanny ability to quickly put even the most conservative developers at ease with his knowledge of tourism, a global outlook and a keen understanding of the evolving Arabian esthetic. His talents, coupled with his own inimitable style have been a blueprint for success throughout the Arab world."

Since its founding in 1989, industry observers have credited J/Brice Design International with redefining the guest experience in the luxury sector by bringing a sense of fashion to hospitality interior design. The firm's engagements have included the iconic buildings that distinguish the skylines of Jeddah, Al Khobar, Dubai, Doha, and now Mecca. As a result, J/Brice has solidly established itself as the preferred design visionary for the Arabian hospitality market for the long term. Recent J/Brice projects include The Grand Heritage Hotel & Spa, which was designed for the Royal Family of Qatar, and quickly became the go-to place for Doha society after opening in 2012.

J/Brice offers a uniquely distinctive fashion statement that has continued to be the favored direction for investors as they develop their portfolios in the luxury hospitality sector. Says Ornstein, "Our vision in the Middle East combines International style with classic European Lines and historic Arabian influences that have earned us a loyal and ever expanding following."

Last year, Ornstein's firm formed a partnership with Hotelier Holding Limited, establishing the collaboration as the global, one-stop shopping entity for hotel development, design and marketing. Hotelier Holding has opened 194 hotels to date, providing turnkey Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E), Fit-out and SO&E for 3,4 and 5 star hotels in Germany, Turkey, England, China, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Sudan, Ghana, Togo and the Congo to name just a few countries where the firm is active.

J/Brice Design International, Inc. (
www.jbricedesign.com) was founded in 1989 by leading hospitality design authority
Jeffrey-Brice Ornstein. It is a global design firm, having directed projects in excess of
$5 Billion since its founding. The firm's most recent signature engagements worldwide include the fabled
HMS Queen Mary, 1934 luxury ocean liner that is one of North America's most popular tourist destinations, the iconic urban landmark
The Helmsley Hotel in
New York City, and
The Grand Heritage Hotel and Spa, the premier destination in
Doha's Aspire Zone, executed for the Royal Family of
Qatar.

J/Brice Design Studios and Offices are located in Boston, MA and Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

About Hotelier Holding Limited

Founded in 1996, Hotelier Holding Limited focuses on designing and building four and five star hotels specializing in FF&E, OS&E and Fit Out Contracts all over the world. Hotelier Holding is the approved worldwide vendor for Wyndham, Hilton, Interrupt Europe Hotels, Tulip Hotels, and The Intercontinental Hotel Group by providing a full solution to hotel projects from Feasibility Study, Architectural and Interior Design, Project Management, Logistics and site installation. Hotelier has accomplished 191 hotel projects all over the world with its office in China, India, United Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Germany. For more information visit www.hotelieronline.com